A Taste for More

by Phyllis R. Dixon

From rural Mississippi in the Jim Crow era through the transformative 1970s, this sweeping novel tells the tale of a mother’s sacrifice, relentless ambition, and against-all-odds success. But the one dream she can’t stop chasing may cost her everything . . . Money is security. Always. Margo Dupree has lived by that rule since childhood, when her father’s death plunged her and her mother into poverty. Marriage brought only disillusionment and struggle. But it also gave Margo the determination to migrate north in search of a better life for herself and her young daughter, Lana. The north, however, isn’t the panacea she expected, and Margo finds herself contending with the all-too-familiar obstacles of racism and prejudice, not to mention the new stresses of urban living. But things change once she realizes that what was once her greatest shame is now her greatest asset—the skills she learned from her mother’s job as a cook. Using her tasty recipes, personality, and relentless hustle, Margo begins to build a successful restaurant chain. Yet despite her ever-more desperate efforts, she can't earn her heart’s deepest Lana’s forgiveness for her early absence. As Lana becomes a beautiful young woman with an increasingly mercenary temperament, Margo wonders if she knows her daughter at all—and if she can save her from the bitter and frighteningly dangerous mistakes that may shatter both of their worlds . . .

Genres: Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Fiction

320 pages, Paperback

Published June 25, 2024

About the author

Ms. Dixon is the author of the novels, Forty Acres, Down Home Blues, Intermission and A Taste for More. She is also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the African American Woman’s Soul. She is a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and has also lived in Minneapolis, Houston, and Pine Bluff, Arkansas. She now calls Memphis, Tennessee home. She is a former bank regulator and book store owner. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and has three adult children. When not reading or writing, she enjoys classic movies, old school R&B and chocolate.

Reviews

[Robyn Fletcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little slow at times and jumps around, but it still delivers a juicy mix of love, business, and second chances. If you're into strong women, bold moves, and a touch of scandal, it might be worth the read.

[Karen Ashmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not literary fiction but nonetheless well-written. I like the author’s concise and to the point writing style. The story of Margo, who is part of the Great Migration from Mississippi to Milwaukee, and works her fingers to the bone only to be demeaned by her spoiled, selfish daughter Lana. Which goes to show you shouldn’t give your kids everything they want or they will expect everything and give nothing in return. Also her three husbands were cheating scoundrels - financially, sexually, and emotionally. So few likable characters except the protagonist Margo whose judgment and good sense were questionable.

[Khaniqua Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so not what I thought it was going to be. Heartbreaking with determination. The main character wants to better her life and it seems for every one step forward she takes two steps back. That daughter oh my goodness. She needs her ass beat!! Very very good read.

[Kenya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one and thought Margot's story was very interesting and full of many twists and t turns.

There is a lot of telling instead of showing here but it didn't take away from the story at all in my opinion.
Margot's resiliency and ability to constantly make a way out of no way and just figure it out was inspiring.

My only complaint as it pertains to Margot overall was the fact that she never grew out of being naive and was entirely too forgiving, especially as it relates to what Lana does to her late in the book.

Speaking of Lana, I felt like as a character, her development was a little elementary. She is smart and headstrong while simultaneously being unnecessarily manipulative and at times evil. I feel like the excuse we got for her being this way did not curl all the way over for me.

All in all, this story felt unique, relatable, and was a real page turner.

[Shay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book & I finished it in one night. Margo was a woman before her time. She had many struggles that she had to endure and at times it felt like she was going backwards, but she prevailed. Sometimes she was naive.There were some time line inconsistencies such as mentioning crack cocaine in the 1970s, but didn’t really come out until the mid 1980s. Also Margo BP was dangerously low and in the stroke zone, but stroke BP is usually high. But it didn’t take away from the storyline. Lana wasn’t a likeable character and I rolled my eyes everytime she spoke. Overall I enjoyed the story and the twist ending! Whoa..that wasn’t expected! Really appreciated the recipes at the end of the book especially the chicken Marsala. I would recommend this book.
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher & of course the author for gifting me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Jaclynn Joslin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mixed feelings on this one. I initially enjoyed it but felt Margo didn’t really grow a lot as a character throughout. She was often too forgiving or too much of a pushover.

Her daughter Lana was a strange character that didn’t quite make sense to me.

I do like the authors voice and hope they continue to write but I feel like this book was a little simplistic

[Vanity Crowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Margo and her decisions stressed me out so bad the entire book. I couldn't stand her daughter Lana, and felt like she simply let her take advantage of her the entire story. Winston got what he deserves in the end, and I can't believe Margo was at naive to his slickness. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I would most definitely read another book by this author, and I plan to!

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this but found myself frustrated with the characters, most of whom I just didn’t like. The tension wasn’t constant and the twist? Really? I rounded up because of the recipes included at the end.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 39 of 2024; 5 stars out of 5 stars.

A Taste for More is the story about a woman named Margo who is seeking a better life for herself and her daughter Lana. Even though she moved from the South to the North to seek better opportunities, it does not come without trouble: failed marriages, familial issues, miscarriages, even a fatal mistake does not stop Margo from being a supportive mother to her growing daughter Lana.

My overall thoughts: This may be one of my favorite books from this year, maybe top five for me. I read this book and interpreted it as the relationship and sacrifice of mother and daughter. I read and followed Margo through nearly two decades from moving to Milwaukee, Wisconsin from Price, Mississippi. Margo lived a life. Margo was married three times to men who enjoyed the thrill at first, but was tired of it. I honestly thought Winston would have been the one. I personally thought the men in Margo’s life shaped her growth as a woman.

I really loved the evolution of Margo’s career too. Before, she was a southern woman who loved cooking. She went from being a cook to owning a restaurant, several of them at that. But that came with issues, issues that soon turned out to be illegal. I loved Margo’s relationship with Eva. They were both supportive of one of another and it was so sweet and tender to witness it all. Food and the ever changing landscape of Fourth Street was one the central parts of this book.

The ending to me was unrealistic, and my only nitpick. It seemed like everything was swept under the rug.

The character of Lana was complicated because you rooted for her and understood what she was trying to get across, but it was the way she executed it that left a bad taste in my mouth. Lana still loved her mother Margo and understood why Margo did not take her along with her as a child.

This is a wonderful book. I enjoyed the real life events and real people that were thrown in here like Marvin Gaye, Nikki Giovanni, Aretha, etc. The men were trash, but they were apart of Margo’s experience being a Black woman in 1960s/1970s United States. I definitely would recommend this book because its really the ways a mother would go for to build a healthy relationship with her daughter.

[Jacqie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that traces the life of one woman but also illustrates the lives of many Black people in the mid twentieth century. It's a little soapy, a little bit of a family epic. It's written in a way that makes it feel like you're in a long conversation with someone who's had a very interesting life, with occasional foreshadowing along the lines of "if I'd known then..."

Margo (who chose her own new name to help reinvent herself) moved to Wisconsin to stay with extended family after her marriage in Mississippi went sour. Margo grew up with a single mother and married too young and also had a daughter too young. She sees Milwaukee as an opportunity to start over, to make money to bring her daughter Lana to live with her instead of Lana's father and as a way to escape the suffocating racism of the South. She becomes part of the great northern migration.

Margo finds a way to earn money. Getting Lana up to Milwaukee takes longer than she hoped. She gets married along the way (several times) fights with and makes up with her family, rolls with the punches of a changing neighborhood, and eventually adapts her own business to become ever more successful. This is all related in a day-to-day event sort of way, with bits of family or man drama finding its way in.

Margo has a huge blind spot when it comes to Lana. She feels guilty over not being with Lana through her early childhood and is far too permissive with her. Lana is also growing up in the 60's and 70's, a turbulent time in the USA and especially for civil rights.

I liked Margo despite her flaws and was interested in her tale. The story has a framing device that felt awkward to me, but I guess the author needed a way in to the life history part of the book. The writing is more workmanlike than inspired, but the voice feels real and true.

[Lynn Dixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Phyllis R. Dixon’s A Taste for More, Callie (who becomes Margo Dupree) is fed up with the lack of opportunities in Price, Mississippi. Her childhood sweetheart-husband refuses to leave so she leaves him and their young daughter to mark out a better life in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she has extended family. She lands a job as a cook on Fourth Street with a great owner/landlord along with his wife. She starts saving to retrieve her daughter Lana, but it takes longer than she thought. Lana is in good hands with her mother and former husband, Jesse.

One thing leads to another, and she meets and marries Clark and they become great business partners as she buys the restaurant and finally gets her daughter. But, she does not want Clark to discipline her daughter which drives a wedge between them. The second marriage falls apart as Lana is increasingly spoiled, unhinged and untrustworthy.

It is a winding tale as Margo tries love again with Winston, who had let her down in the past. By this time, she is the owner of three restaurants and certainly a good catch for a person who is in financial trouble. Unfortunately, she marries Winston and he betrays her in innumerable ways. Will Margo let this break her or will she forge ahead in spite of the circumstances? Check out A Taste for More and see!

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Omg I absolutely loved this book so much. The authors writing style is absolutely amazing. I love when I read a story I feel like a little mini movie is playing in my head because it’s so well written. Margo was a black woman from the South who moves up North to get away from her small town & issues concerning the Jim Crow era. Unfortunately she leaves her daughter behind with her ex husband and mom until she gets settled, but one issue after another delays her daughter to moving with her until years pass. Margo is gaining some stability or so she thinks as she helps runs a cafe’ in Milwaukee & then finds love once again, so after awhile her daughter can join her and her new life. Yet when Lana finally comes everything really starts to spiral out of control. This story was really good but crazy. I enjoyed so many of the characters like Clark, Eva, & Mr. Ben etc but Lana was diabolical & got away with too much . Definitely plan to check out more from this author since this was my first read from her, because this was a 4.5 read for me. I appreciate the complimentary copy of this book in exchange of my honest review.,

[Coffee&Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a well-told story that spanned multiple decades through Black history. Though I felt like some of the conversations were pat and didn’t explore an idea enough, A Taste for More was engaging with a quick moving storyline. Dixon’s characters bring a Mary Monroe book to mind- determined and charismatic but also very simple and country.
There were several characters I just did not care for— most of the men to be honest. Even Clark after a certain point. Winston for sure- for a woman so self assured, Margo really wanted to relax and count on someone else but chose the wrong people to put her faith in. I can’t even talk about Lana- I like a headstrong, tough as nails character as much as the next person but Lana tried my nerves and that twist at 90% about did me in! This was a quick read that held my attention over the course of two days- well done.

[Kim G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I love this story. It is my first time reading a book by Phyllis R. Dixon.
And what a treat! The writing and story are splendid; I was captivated from the first page. The cast of characters was well-developed; I'm hoping for part 2 of Marge and her daughter Lana's lives. Lana is a piece of work that made me want to slap her myself. All she thought about was herself, nothing else. Lana had no boundaries when it came to people or consciences. Mother Margo gave in to everything Lana wanted because Margo felt bad about leaving her behind to achieve a better life for both of them, which had taken years to accomplish. Everybody knows Lana is a troublemaker, but Margo. Margo, chasing money is never a good idea. You often leave the most critical thing in your life behind, often under very severe circumstances, thinking it's the right thing to do. The ending is a little abrupt but Well done, Phyllis R. Dixon. I am optimistic that there will be a second book.

[Geri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking forward to this book having read the synopsis of what it was going to be about. I was unfortunately, disappointed. It was a fast read but I found myself checking to make sure it was not a YA book. I found the scenarios to be a bit far fetched and the relationships ridiculous. It seemed like the author wanted to speed everything up. I believe what the author was trying to do was explain why she did what she did but it did not come across that way, I found the ending to be a even bigger disappointment, it never really tapped into the emotional feelings people would feel having to endure and deal with what happened. I was glad when I finished it because I felt that I just wanted to get it over with. I did appreciate however, the questions at the end of the book.

[Ladiami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phyllis R Dixon has solidified her place as one of my favorite authors, so when I stumbled upon her upcoming release, I was eager to dive in. The book started off strong, immediately pulling me into Margo's story and prompting me to uncover how everything had spiraled out of control. However, as I reached the middle of the book, I found myself feeling like the plot was meandering and repetitive. Just as the story regained momentum, it ended, leaving me feeling a bit shortchanged and rushed. While some parts of the narrative were predictable, overall, it was a simple yet decent read.

Thank you to Kensington and Dafina for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.

[Linzie (book.clubbin.besties) Mullins · Rating 5 out of 5]

From chapter 1 I was hooked. I read this book in almost one sitting... I was glued to it. Time and time again, Margo got up after she was pushed down, and did it with grace. She was surrounded by bad influences and sneaky sneaky men... but no matter what, she stuck to her morals and values. Her fight throughout this book is what kept me engaged... I am 10000% going to read more Phyllis Dixon books. This was a great read.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Taste for More* is an intriguing read that will keep you hooked from start to finish. It follows the journey of a young woman as she navigates life through the roles of mother, wife, business owner, and ultimately, widow. The emotional depth and unexpected twists will leave you craving more. I highly recommend this book, along with anything else written by Phyllis Dixon. Without a doubt, it deserves a solid 5 stars!

[Megan Luther King Jr. · Rating 1 out of 5]

The summary of this book made me think it would be a great read about the growing pains of a single mother moving from the Mississippi Delta to the big city Midwest. But the main character never grew. Her relationship with her daughter was unbelievable. You met the main character as a naive Mississippi country girl and she STAYED. A naive country girl. And the ending being basically "and her daughter became a single mother too."

[Patricia Saunders · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I had downloaded it and was listening to it as I was working and driving. I was laughing, talking back to Margo, the lead character, and it had some historical moments in it. The ending had me wanting a sequel.

[Joy W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute page turner. I was intrigued from the prologue and read several chapters each night before bed. Anticipated the ending but still a great read.

[Charlene Cannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. I really enjoyed the layers of the characters and I just ordered more books from this wonderful author.

[Stephanie R Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a bit of a slow read but a good story nonetheless.